NOTE: This article might change in the future, right now it is just the same day impression of the evening.
Its October 2nd, 2004 and I am on my way to one of the hot-beds of Computer Animation right here in the San Francisco Bay Area. PIXAR animation studio has redefined animation with their crowd pleasing, high grossing, and highly artistic films: Toy Story, a Bug Life, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, and coming in November 2004 THE INCREDIBLES.
The INCREDIBLE’S Story:
The Incredibles is the story of a family of superheros: Dad is Mr. Incredible (Bob Parr), Mom is Elastic Girl (Helen Parr), daughter Violet, speedster son Dash, and normal baby Jack Jack. They have been ordered by the government into hiding their super powers and living a normal life. But when Mr. Incredible gets a chance to play hero again, he jumps at the chance. But he can’t do it alone; his family will have to join together to save the day.
3:45 pm
I arrive at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, CA. I have been asked to help the Cartoon Art Museum with this fundraiser, and I gladly oblige. I get my badge and park the car. I walk along past the rolling man-made hills into the main lobby. Displayed in front of me is the OmniDroid, direct from E3 video game convention.
The OmniDroid is the villains destructive robot. More on that later. The atrium also includes a video game display to my left, that was not working, made to look like a very cool super city.
Here is a little car that was made after WWII by a German company that once made cockpits.
To my right was the “gift store”, a stylish iMac that had an e-Store of exclusive merchandise that was sold out by the end of the event. Also a NAS-CAR with Finding Nemo characters on it. The whole atrium features panels that include blown up reproduction of pastel art from Finding Nemo. Not shown to the Left of the artwork is the off limits area where the animators work.
The men’s room was labeled with a silhouette of wood from Toy Story, and the lady’s had Bo Peep from that same film.
After checking in with Summerlea and getting a pep talk on what the rules where I was ready to check everything out. The guest where not to arrive till 5:30 pm and I was there to help setup.
The second floor of the building contained offices as well as more off limits animation areas. But also had some exclusive art displayed. We were not allowed to take photos of any of the art, but I was able to take a photo of these guy’s who resided in the corner by the stairs:
On the right side was; Behind the Mask: the art of the Incredibles. The show was amazing, featuring original conceptual artwork from the movie. It was drool-O-rific. A highlight was the ‘memorabilia’ that is in Mr. Incredible den in the movie trailer. There was “clippings” and “photos” from Bob’s career including a jar labeled “bullets that bounced off my chest” and a defused bomb. This is the area where I would be stationed later on.
Working around, counter clock-wise was the Story Corner. Here were many examples of storyboards and scripts as well as an iMac running an exclusive DVD playing Story Reels that can only be seen in the studio. Here was also the Employee Art Show, featuring personal art by the companies employees.
Last but not least was a collection of foreign movie posters, and a life size Bruce, Marlon, and Dorrie from Finding Nemo.
5:30 pm: the guests arrive
As guests arrive I stationed myself upstairs to mingle and point out all the wonders that where contained in the show. Soon guests would be chowing down on hearty appetizers from Café Luxor the in-house café.
7:00 pm: Show Time!
At 7pm the guest lined up to enter the theater, first leaving any communication device outside with security: cell phones, cameras, etc. This was good, it meant we were going to see clips from the un-released INCREIBLES movie. Oh Joy!
The presentation, like last year was inspiring, showing why so many artist love the creative environment at PIXAR.
Our first presenter was Academy Award Winner, Gary Rydstrom who talked about doing sound for Luxo Jr. and Finding Nemo. He showed us clips with and without sound effects to show the importance.
Next was Academy Award winning writer/director Andrew Stanton who went over the story process in a funny presentation. We learned that its the Characters that drive a story with there personality, that PIXAR hires actors for there voice and not for name recognition, the importance of having a story with a visual image moment to always refer back on. Very amazing!
Next came the big moment, the curtain dropped, the lights dimmed and the ceiling was filled with stars and we heard the sound of crickets chirping. Then we were able to see two very different trailers for THE INCREDIBLES. The U.S. version was fast and action packed with super fast Mtv cutting. You could feel the sound in the floor.
The Japanese trailer was much better, it was longer and had action, but also featured Mr. Incredible and family trying to fit in with average folks, and focused on the films main themes of family and being a hero. It is sad that someone cough cough disney cough cough feels that American Audiences would have not wanted this more moving and equally exciting trailer. NOTE: This movie is going to rock! A Family movie, but not crude like the DreamWorks/PDI stuff, much better animation. It is so well done, wow!
Then we heard the head of Story for THE INCREDIBLES, Mark Andrews, as he “pitched” part of the final battle scene. He used a Mac computer to flip through a series of scanned storyboards all the while performing the voices and sound effects. It had to be seen to be believed.
Last was animator Angus MacLane who showed us the process of animating a battle between the OminDroid (shown above) and Mr. Incredible. This scene is action packed and funny too. I believe it was show at Comic-Con in San Diego as well.
9:30 PM
We exited the theater to find delicious treats and hot beverages, and a chance to meet the artist and take another look at the artwork.
So in conclusion, if you can go to PIXAR, DO! As an artist I came away feeling excited to sit down and draw and create (and get going on issue #3 of my comic book too). And I think that’s the secret of PIXAR is that there is an exciting creative energy that is wonderfully infectious all around the studio. All in all the evening was an amazing success and a good time was had by all (IMHO). Can’t wait for next year!
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